Abstract
Chronic stress generally experienced in our daily lives; is known to augment disease vulnerability by suppressing the host immune system. In the present study; the effect of modified Aloe polysaccharide (MAP) on chronic stress-induced immunosuppression was studied; this Aloe compound was characterized in our earlier study. Mice were orally administered with MAP for 24 days and exposed to electric foot shock (EFS; duration; 3 min; interval; 10 s; intensity; 2 mA) for 17 days. The stress-related immunosuppression and restorative effect of MAP were then analyzed by measuring various immunological parameters. MAP treatment alleviated lymphoid atrophy and body weight loss. The numbers of lymphocyte subsets were significantly normalized in MAP-treated mice. Oral administration of MAP also restored the proliferative activities of lymphocytes; ovalbumin (OVA)-specific T cell proliferation; antibody production; and the cell killing activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In summary; oral administration of MAP ameliorated chronic EFS stress-induced immunosuppression.
Highlights
Stress is scientifically viewed as a natural and ubiquitous aspect of life; it is referred to as the body’s adaptation to environmental threats [1,2]
Acute time-limited stress exerted under uncomfortable situations such as unexpected public speaking or memorization is associated with up-regulated immune functions including rapid movements of immune cells [5]
The body weight of mice exposed to electric foot shock (EFS)-mediated chronic stress decreased; these mice developed lymphoid atrophy, which was evident in the weight indices of the thymus and spleen (Figure 1)
Summary
Stress is scientifically viewed as a natural and ubiquitous aspect of life; it is referred to as the body’s adaptation to environmental threats [1,2]. The stress hormones continuously produced under chronic stress conditions can disrupt immune cell responses by altering patterns of cytokine secretion. This process results in the suppression of Type 1 helper T cells (Th1) with a subsequent increase in Type 2 helper T cells (Th2) response, rendering the defense system vulnerable to pathogenic infections and autoimmune diseases, respectively [6,7]. In the present study an experimental model of stress was developed by chronically exposing mice to EFS for 17 days with continuous oral administration of MAP. The protective effect of MAP against chronic EFS stress-induced immunosuppression in mice was explored using various immunological parameters
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